In the eyes of many less knowledgeable fans, Michael Schumacher was the undisputed best ever driver in F1. In this respect, his time at Mercedes must have done some damage to the Schumacher legend.

There is no doubt that Michael was always very fast in a car but his time up against Niko ( who I don't think is an absolutely top class driver ), has confirmed what a lot of us always thought.

Many, including myself, regard Michael as one of maybe ten to fifteen great drivers including Vettel, Alonso and Hamilton from the modern era. I think it's impossible to definitively say more than that about him.

Michael became the most successful F1 driver in the history of the sport because he benefited from a unique situation which he helped to nurture and that can never be repeated :

After years in the doldrums, Ferrari assembled one of the best-ever design teams and a management structure that put winning above any consideration of good sportsmanship. The team was further backed by a huge budget and fantastic facilities including their own test track which the rules permitted them to use to the full.

Fiorano alone gave them a substantial advantage over every other team, as did their privileged relationships with the FIA and Bridgestone whose tyres were designed very much with Ferrari in mind.

Michael was further helped by having clear No 1 status compared with the equal No 1 status given to drivers from the British teams like Williams and McLaren.

Comparisons of race wins with drivers from previous eras like Fangio, Jim Clark and Stirling Moss are not valid because Michael competed in far more F1 races in each season so that increased his opportunities to score wins and accrue an enormous tally of points over his long career.

Great improvements in safety. led by Sid Watkins, also paid their part here because many potentially great careers tragically ended early. ( Ronnie Petersen for one )

None of this is designed to detract from Michael's achievements, which were many, but they need to be appreciated and put into perspective against this background.

Michael continues to be lucky, he has a strong family, the money and status to have a wonderful life and nothing more to prove.

I hope he comes to appreciate this, puts racing behind him and has a well deserved, long and happy retirement.

I assure you that the vast majority of drivers, including Alonso who is trying the same thing now, and Hamilton who seems to be having similar ambitions with MGP would love to create this apparently unrepeatable situation that Micheal benefited from. So many, quasi men of wisdom, as yourself, try to play this down. Follow Fangio, the next in line with a run of championships and you'll see that he also benefited from competitive machinery and submissive teammates. Senna gravitated towards competitive machinery as well and would have done anything to be in Michael's position of competitiveness.

Michael's retirement speech was really of high impact and from a man who has seen a lot, experienced a lot and has fully assimilated his experience. He's remarkably well developed and I'm deeply happy about this for him. What an inspiration he is from this POV! The fact that he would consider to continue links with MGP makes it clear that, as per usual, we aren't aware of the full picture and that things aren't the way as they are being said to be by the media and on these fora. I especially liked his view on his indecision being taken care of by life when the unlikely prospect of Hamilton coming to MGP popped up; an unlikely prospect that a team like MGP, in the position they are now, simply cannot pass up. His allowing things to evolve the way they did is quite something.

Living by convictions and not caring what others feel? Well, he has certainly demonstrated this in spades.

The support and freedom allowed by his family for him to live his dream? Again, a great thing and deserving since he's definitely had so many rough times. He knows that it's not about the money and good for him. The only way to know this is to have a LOT of it while truly living and observing. It's funny how things have come full circle in that the person thought to have the least personality early in his career, is now quietly demonstrating a lot of depth; a lot more than those before him who have been so vocal with the obvious need to feel noticed and lauded.

I don't think his comeback was a failure. His comeback allowed the F1 world to see this other side of him; to see how he handled racing without the sort of success he enjoyed before. I'm happy that it occurred in this order. Better for him and better for us who truly watch and listen to him.

With all that's said, I'm fully aware that he's NOT perfect and continues not to be. However, all we ask is that one develops and what's life's purpose without the journey of personal development and the achievements that assist this process? He does so and quietly too while so many fuss about it.

I do wish him all the best and I'll have to again readjust to enjoying F1 without his presence on the grid.

Eh thanks If there's some sentence in Swedish you'll need to grasp I'm there to help you right back... not studying German for four years has made me forgot... a lot ;) You know... listening is alright but talk... nah

I've lost count on how many Sunday's Michael's made great for me... the best ever F1 driver, no question to me. That he won 72 races for Ferrari is just stunning.

In the eyes of many less knowledgeable fans, Michael Schumacher was the undisputed best ever driver in F1. In this respect, his time at Mercedes must have done some damage to the Schumacher legend.

There is no doubt that Michael was always very fast in a car but his time up against Niko ( who I don't think is an absolutely top class driver ), has confirmed what a lot of us always thought.

Many, including myself, regard Michael as one of maybe ten to fifteen great drivers including Vettel, Alonso and Hamilton from the modern era. I think it's impossible to definitively say more than that about him.

Michael became the most successful F1 driver in the history of the sport because he benefited from a unique situation which he helped to nurture and that can never be repeated :

After years in the doldrums, Ferrari assembled one of the best-ever design teams and a management structure that put winning above any consideration of good sportsmanship. The team was further backed by a huge budget and fantastic facilities including their own test track which the rules permitted them to use to the full.

Fiorano alone gave them a substantial advantage over every other team, as did their privileged relationships with the FIA and Bridgestone whose tyres were designed very much with Ferrari in mind.

Michael was further helped by having clear No 1 status compared with the equal No 1 status given to drivers from the British teams like Williams and McLaren.

Comparisons of race wins with drivers from previous eras like Fangio, Jim Clark and Stirling Moss are not valid because Michael competed in far more F1 races in each season so that increased his opportunities to score wins and accrue an enormous tally of points over his long career.

Great improvements in safety. led by Sid Watkins, also paid their part here because many potentially great careers tragically ended early. ( Ronnie Petersen for one )

None of this is designed to detract from Michael's achievements, which were many, but they need to be appreciated and put into perspective against this background.

Michael continues to be lucky, he has a strong family, the money and status to have a wonderful life and nothing more to prove.

I hope he comes to appreciate this, puts racing behind him and has a well deserved, long and happy retirement.

How are those claiming subjectively that MS was the greatest somehow less knowledgeable?

Schumacher's interesting return to F1 is over. The retirement option was the only real decision he could make and especially in light of Raikkonen's excellent return Schumacher couldn't risk another unsuccessful stint at a team such as Sauber which would leave no doubt at all that he was the issue and no longer able to cope with F1.

Bon voyage MS. Perhaps we will see you in other formula from time to time.

It definitely will. He's quite the icon who has demonstrated a lot of development while blazing an amazing trail of success. In the midst of it, he's demonstrated his weakness. This makes him REAL. Unfortunately, the amount he has achieved, makes it very difficult for many to not envy it. He has overshadowed so many and being German at that!! Very difficult for so many and as a result, all his faults are magnified and all his fortune downplayed in the most obtuse ways that take double standards to an all new level.

Schumacher's interesting return to F1 is over. The retirement option was the only real decision he could make and especially in light of Raikkonen's excellent return Schumacher couldn't risk another unsuccessful stint at a team such as Sauber which would leave no doubt at all that he was the issue and no longer able to cope with F1.

Bon voyage MS. Perhaps we will see you in other formula from time to time.

Don't forget to mention that KR is driving a car that is significantly better than any of the 3 iterations of the Mercedes.

It definitely will. He's quite the icon who has demonstrated a lot of development while blazing an amazing trail of success. In the midst of it, he's demonstrated his weakness. This makes him REAL. Unfortunately, the amount he has achieved, makes it very difficult for many to not envy it. He has overshadowed so many and being German at that!! Very difficult for so many and as a result, all his faults are magnified and all his fortune downplayed in the most obtuse ways that take double standards to an all new level.

Agreed.

But as other drivers experience their own lapses in judgement, I think that MS's own blemishes will be placed back into a less magnified context.

I'm glad he came back and showed he wasn't just in F1 for the wins and the glory, that he also had a genuine desire to race. There's still a chance he can get lucky and finish on a high (Mansell-style!*)

I was never a fan but this. I respected Michael for his comeback, he didn't have to, he wanted to.

The right decision. Never a fan, but if he had quit after '10 or '11, I wouldn't have felt too much but this season showed that he clearly had some of it left. He's been robbed of a great swansong season by shocking unreliability.

I get the feeling that had Schumacher faced the quality drivers and teams of today during his prime, he would look far poorer in the record books. Then again, he was by no means a poor driver, but the only truly great driver during a period of mediocrity by other teams and drivers.

I do believe he was faster than Rosberg by the end, but more erratic, and his comeback kind of made him look better as a sportsperson than the 4 years he dominated from 2001 to 2004 even though he didn't hit any statistics.

I'm glad he came back and showed he wasn't just in F1 for the wins and the glory, that he also had a genuine desire to race. There's still a chance he can get lucky and finish on a high (Mansell-style!*)

*Ignoring 1995 of course.

I think that's the one point where the fans and the doubters can come together, break bread, clink glasses and agree. His passion and love for F1 never waned even when the batteries started to run low.

Suzuka, 2000, second round of pitstops over, Ross Brawn on the radio:"It looks good Michael, it looks really good." The battle with Mika that day got me out of my seat and I'll never forget it.
Michael pounding the steering wheel when he became Ferrari champion. Classic moment.

Sad day. I've enjoyed seeing him back in F1, even if he was past his best.

I don't think these three years have damaged his legend. They've only enhanced it. We got to see a more grounded and human MS. A man who had to accept being less than perfect as a driver, and who had to work harder than ever before to succeed. I think it's pretty impressive that at 43 he managed to take on drivers half his age. How often has that happened in F1 in recent years?

I'm not a fan, never have been, but I hope we see him on the podium before the end of the season. Would be great.

When MS, albeit for only a couple of races, started to be competitive with Senna, I knew he was a talented one. No way his accomplishments in the sports can be minimized, he´s one of the greats. Good luck Schumi.

I get the feeling that had Schumacher faced the quality drivers and teams of today during his prime, he would look far poorer in the record books. Then again, he was by no means a poor driver, but the only truly great driver during a period of mediocrity by other teams and drivers.

I do believe he was faster than Rosberg by the end, but more erratic, and his comeback kind of made him look better as a sportsperson than the 4 years he dominated from 2001 to 2004 even though he didn't hit any statistics.

before he retired. Seems like he faced some pretty tough drivers during his prime.

I think the idea his legacy is diminished by his return from retirement is silly and put out there by people who would like to see his legacy diminished. It isn't as if he drove around at the back of the pack with his left turn signal perpetually blinking.

I get the feeling that had Schumacher faced the quality drivers and teams of today during his prime, he would look far poorer in the record books. Then again, he was by no means a poor driver, but the only truly great driver during a period of mediocrity by other teams and drivers.

I do believe he was faster than Rosberg by the end, but more erratic, and his comeback kind of made him look better as a sportsperson than the 4 years he dominated from 2001 to 2004 even though he didn't hit any statistics.

I think the current cars doesn't require as much driver talent and physical strenght then the F1 require 10-15 years ago, and this lower limit is easily achievable for more drivers.

The role of a driver in the current F1 is less then earlier, and the speed of the driver count less then the avibility of usig the tyres. I don't think that the quality of the field was weeker 10 years ago then now, just 10 years ago you have to work more for the success.

I think the current cars doesn't require as much driver talent and physical strenght then the F1 require 10-15 years ago, and this lower limit is easily achievable for more drivers.

The role of a driver in the current F1 is less then earlier, and the speed of the driver count less then the avibility of usig the tyres. I don't think that the quality of the field was weeker 10 years ago then now, just 10 years ago you have to work more for the success.

Personally I think his comeback damaged his reputation. If he wanted to continue more time driving in F1 he should have signed with Merc in the summer, he delayed the descission too much.

no it didnt ! I did not really like him in his ferrari years but grew fond of him in his Merc years , he proved he can lose with dignity and humility he showed a shuey that most of us didnt see or appreciate !

after Senna he is the best for me ! never will you see another driver so dominant in F1 !

good luck shumi really enjoyed your comeback even if it didnt produce another championship

before he retired. Seems like he faced some pretty tough drivers during his prime.

I think the idea his legacy is diminished by his return from retirement is silly and put out there by people who would like to see his legacy diminished. It isn't as if he drove around at the back of the pack with his left turn signal perpetually blinking.I would like to see him stay involved with a team.

I get the feeling that had Schumacher faced the quality drivers and teams of today during his prime, he would look far poorer in the record books. Then again, he was by no means a poor driver, but the only truly great driver during a period of mediocrity by other teams and drivers.

I do believe he was faster than Rosberg by the end, but more erratic, and his comeback kind of made him look better as a sportsperson than the 4 years he dominated from 2001 to 2004 even though he didn't hit any statistics.

There was no problem with the quality of the drivers, but the competitiveness of the other teams was sadly lacking.

Although it was pretty much expected this is really sad news for me. I just moved to Switzerland and i was pretty sure that i will be able to attend my first F1 GP next year and watch Schumi live.. I guess that is going to be the greatest sporting regret of my life.. Anyway, for me it was a great privilege to watch him race, whatever his age and i will always consider him the best ever.. Thanks for everything Schumi! :-)

I think that's the one point where the fans and the doubters can come together, break bread, clink glasses and agree. His passion and love for F1 never waned even when the batteries started to run low.

I think the current cars doesn't require as much driver talent and physical strenght then the F1 require 10-15 years ago, and this lower limit is easily achievable for more drivers.

The role of a driver in the current F1 is less then earlier, and the speed of the driver count less then the avibility of usig the tyres. I don't think that the quality of the field was weeker 10 years ago then now, just 10 years ago you have to work more for the success.

Very well said indeed.

Q: Do you have to train harder and longer to stay in Formula 1 shape now? (Don Molyneux, USA)

Michael: I do the same amount as always. I always liked to be fit and was sometimes fitter than required. F1 is slower now and less effort, so it's easy to be fit for these cars. I've adapted my regime and I'm always looking for new things to do. I'd tell you my whole routine, but your tape is too short.

I just do not buy this awesome competitiveness that exists now and not back then. Not for a minute. It's unfair to all those other drivers back then. Very much so. It just goes to show how far others will go to discredit Schumacher for his achievements, i.e., belittling the competition he had for 15yrs.

I think his comeback performance has been poor. Poor for a driver who is always on the "greatest of all time" top 3 or top 5. His comeback performance is totally OK for a normal solid driver, though.

And i think the reason for this is not age but simply... too many years out of the sport. I think that has hurt Michael a lot. Take for example Luca Badoer, the guy wasn't a bad driver at all, he was very good pre-F1 and a solid driver on F1. Yet he was embarrasing on that Ferrari.

This is a sport in which every year out of F1 will cause a lot of harm.

I will miss Schumacher a great deal, whether or not we ever see him again. Growing up in the late nineties/early 2000s I never got the opportunity to see Senna race, so Schumacher is comfortably the best driver I have ever seen. There were days when he was just on it, and then he was something to behold, even during less celebrated drives like Monza 2004 or Imola 2005. One of the greatest sportsmen I have ever seen.